phobia

1 of 2

noun

pho·​bia ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce phobia (audio)
: an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation

-phobia

2 of 2

noun combining form

1
: exaggerated fear of
acrophobia
2
: intolerance or aversion for
photophobia

Examples of phobia in a Sentence

Noun His fear of crowds eventually developed into a phobia.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
The balance between witty humor and monster mayhem is perfectly calibrated, with John Goodman bringing the laughs as a gregarious exterminator and Jeff Daniels providing twitchy paranoia as a small-town doctor with an intense phobia of all things arachnid. Katie Rife, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024 There are not enough studies to support acupuncture as an effective treatment for other types of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder.2 Does Acupuncture Help With Anxiety? Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2024 This fear is categorized as a specific phobia, which can often occur alongside anxiety disorders and OCD. Joy Emeh, Health, 8 Sep. 2024 Despite being left with a phobia of water, the 24-year-old reconnected with her old coach James Barone in September 2023, according to The Guardian. Jamie Barton, CNN, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for phobia 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

-phobia

Noun combining form

New Latin, from Late Latin, from Greek, from -phobos fearing, from phobos fear, flight, from phebesthai to flee; akin to Lithuanian bėgti to flee, Old Church Slavic běžati

First Known Use

Noun

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phobia was in 1786

Dictionary Entries Near phobia

Cite this Entry

“Phobia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phobia. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

phobia

noun
pho·​bia ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce phobia (audio)
: an unreasonable, abnormal, and lasting fear of something

Medical Definition

phobia

noun
pho·​bia ˈfō-bē-ə How to pronounce phobia (audio)
: an exaggerated and often disabling fear usually inexplicable to the subject and having sometimes a logical but usually an illogical or symbolic object, class of objects, or situation compare compulsion, obsession
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